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30 April 2014

Do you remember an age ago I joined a quilt a-long.....well hands up I was absolutely rubbish at keeping up with it. I think I was perhaps a little optimistic with just how much spare time I actually have each week to sew....also adding in the fact that I am a crafting butterfly and flutter from project to project! Rather than enjoying the process, I actually placed myself under a huge amount of pressure and the longer time passed, the more I fell behind. So over Easter, I gave myself a stern talking too......the whole point of my precious sewing time should be for pleasure....and I decided to crack on and finish the quilt my way and in my own time.

I absolutely love the design of the quilt that Melissa created and my original plan was for 3 x 3 block layout. So my new plan of action was to use the one star block that I had completed and then as much as possible to use all the other pieces that had been pre-cut and rework them in to my new design..... here's the end result......

I have learnt so much from making this quilt, not only new techniques, but to be realistic with what I can achieve in the time that I have available.

26 April 2014

Spring has definitely sprung at Pretty Fabrics and Trims..............

First to arrive this week was a box full to brimming with gorgeous Riley Blake fabrics. I just love the ditsy floral prints from the Unforgettable collection and I can not tell you how much I want to make a quilt binding using one of those diagonal stripes....oh let me at them!!!! I've also fallen back in love with yellow....have you noticed just how much yellow in varying shades there is about this year?

Following the floral theme, we had our first batch of Vintage Modern, designed by Lori Holt from Bee in my Bonnet blog fame....if you haven't visited her blog you really must, if nothing else to admire her pink sewing machine. She generously offers lots of top tips when it comes to quilting and patchwork, some of which I have found so very useful when working on my Farmers Wifes Quilt. Fingers crossed, we should have more from this collection arriving next week....

My heart did skip a beat (it really did!!) when I opened our next delivery containing the most pretty miniature florals by Sevenberry.......

........ are they not just the prettiest.... I am thinking summer tunics, mini quilts, little zipped pouches, bags..... and in true Blue Peter style ( I know I'm showing my age!) here's one I made earlier.... oh and I've not forgotten, I promise to sort out a tote bag tutorial very soon.....

In addition to the florals, we also received some miniature strawberry and cherry prints..... I've shown them here with the Sevenberry Pin Dot... personally I'm always drawn to strawberry prints and this one is extra sweet with the addition of the little strawberry flowers...

To finish, I've been out in Mum's garden photographing her Crab Apple tree which is in full bloom...looking back through by protographs, it's a good couple of weeks earlier than last year. Here's a little mood board inspired by it's delicate blossom......

21 April 2014

* Watching an early morning family movie... the concept of having a lie in hasn't yet been grasped by the younger generation

* Playing with hama beads...honestly I could get seriously addicted to them :: Edited 22nd April I forgot to say.......Pinterest is a great source for the Star Wars designs and the Rose design was taken from a cross stitch chart from 'Stitch and Sew Home by Eline Pellinkhof

* Eating Easter cornflake cakes.... we never need an excuse to make these

* Easter crafting...lots of Easter crafting

* Going for an afternoon stroll, bike ride or scoot.... sometimes round the block, sometimes across the fields and on Good Friday to one of our favourite country haunts

* A spot of gardening or general jobs around the house

* I've even managed a bit of sewing....more of this next time

Happy Days!

Now moving on to the Giveaway....thank you so much for all your lovely comments both here and on our Facebook page........I'm sure however you would like to know who has won........ Penny and I are delighted to announce that .......

We look forward to hearing from you Kate.

Thank you so much for visiting me here and I wish you a very happy week...back soon!

18 April 2014

Hang out the flags and lets eat cake........Pretty Fabrics and Trimsis 2 years old ......wow how time flies! When we pressed that button 'Publish' we really didn't know how things were going to go....... would working together as a mother and daughter team be a success..... would anyone purchase anything from us...... would our ethos be well received.....

Thankfully....Mum and I are still best friends.........we've packed lots and lots of parcels full of loveliness......and we've cut up many metres of fabric in to our unique small and mini pieces.......phew!!!

So as a huge thank you, we thought we would have a little giveaway....... we've filled up a bundle box with a selection of some of our favourite spring coloured goodies.......... here's what's inside......

First off..... simply leave a comment below to say that you would like your name to be entered into the hat.

For a second chance.....be or become a follower of this blog, now this can be done in a variety of ways, either by subscribing by email (click the box in the right hand column) or via Bloglovin or by some other preferred method and then leave a second comment below to let me know which way you do.

The Giveaway is also running on our Facebook page so if you're really keen, you can pop over and enter there.

We will happily post worldwide so everyone, from everywhere is most welcome to enter!

The Giveaway is open until 11am GMT Sunday 20th April 2014 and a winner will be picked at random from all the entries combined here and from Facebook.
We will announce a winner after 6pm on Monday 21st April 2014.

The small print.......

No cash alternative can be offered.
We will cover all postage costs. The winner will be announced both here and on our Facebook page and we will request that the winner get in touch by email. If we have not heard from said winner within 7 days, then we reserve the right to redraw.
This competition is run by Pretty Fabrics and Trims and is in no way Sponsored, Endorsed, Administered by, or associated with Facebook.

GOODLUCK !

:: UPDATED 20th April 2014 Thank you so much for all your entries and very kind comments....the Giveaway is now closed, back tomorrow with details of the winner! xo

12 April 2014

This week has pretty much been all about fabric, but not just any fabric, gorgeously soft Art Gallery Fabrics......

These have the most luxurious feel to the them, imagine Liberty Tana Lawns, but a little thicker. They're suitable for patchwork and crafting, they would also make the most beautiful clothes. For inspiration, take a peek at the Art Gallery website, they have created the most wonderful projects and look books for each of their collections......here's the one for Sweet as Honey and here's the one for Rapture.

We've also managed to get hold of these scrumptious Michael Miller fabrics....they're very shabby chic don't you think?

I succumbed to temptation and snaffling some of the lovely stripe for a little skirt for Poppy.....it's been a popular week for skirts... Marianne over at Ladybird Diaries has also been industriously stitching skirts for her daughter and Lazy Daisy Jones is hosting a Skirt Sew-a-long. Here's my little contribution, it's definitely not couture, but it's perfect for some sunny Easter play......

First off, I measured Poppy from her natural waist to her knee and then added 1 1/2 inches (for the hem and waistband). Then I simply folded the fabric in half, matched the pattern, which is printed horizontally and stitched. After turning through and pressing, I positioned the seam centre back.

I made a casing for the elastic at the top...

and for the bottom, I simply pressed up aprox 3/8" using the design of the pattern as a guide and then stitched some gingham ribbon over the top to conceal the raw edge. This is great idea when you want a light weight hem or you've not got a great deal of fabric to play with!

All in all in took less than an hour and a smidge over half a metre of fabric (I have a very tall 6 year old)...now for the twirl test.....

and just one more........

Right back to the shop........on the ribbon and trim front, we did have a few new arrivals, here's my favourites picks of the week.........

The Hemp/Cotton ribbon can be found here, the Coastal themed ribbons here, the gorgeous grey Velvet ribbon here and Mini Ric Rac here where you'll also find lots more colours.

10 April 2014

Now I know that I have what feels like a million WIP's in progress at the moment, however, I simply could not resist the temptation to join Chrissie Crafts and Lazy Daisy Jones Mand-a-Long. I did so with some trepidation, my crochet to date has simply been Granny Squares, all be it I am mighty chuffed with my Grannies, this would mean following a pattern....gulp!!

I chose Winks 12 round Mandala, although as a newbie I did find it a challenge...I certainly couldn't master a magic circle, although Chrissie thankfully gave some words of encouragement and I started mine with a chain circle.

There are also some holes where I've started/finished a round....however for my third ever piece of crochet, all in all I am very happy and can not wait to pick up my hook again....I've a cushion to finish!

Meanwhile, the Easter holidays are now in full swing, which means balancing family fun time with work....the weather has been helping and it would seem that Spring has sprung.......

Hello, my name is Sarah, I'm a mum, wife, purveyor of pretty fabrics and trims, fabric addict, quilter, happy stitcher and home maker. This blog is all about my hopes and dreams for my family and our family business..... it's a little happy place!

A polite notice.....

If you wish to feature my pictures, brilliant!! ....but please do be considerate and ensure that my copyrighted material is credited to me as 'A little happy place', and linked back to me. I would ask that you please do not reprint my writing without asking me first for permission and finally and in no uncertain terms, using pictures of my children is strictly prohibited! Thank you for your understanding.